Just kidding.

Actually, I just thought this would be interesting and, well, kind of Christmas-themed: There is a very interesting book out called Reindeer People, by Piers Vitebsky, which looks at indigenous Siberian peoples who utilize the reindeer for transport, and whose relationship to the reindeer is not only pragmatic but quite profound and spiritual.

In fact, a lot of Siberian folklore includes reindeer, who act as mediators between the realm of the physical and that of spirit. In a way the reindeer is thought to embody man's ability to transcend this reality and to attain the greater reality of spirit world. For that reason the reindeer is often depicted as flying, in carvings, paintings and even tattoos. Some such pictures portray the animal as having tiny wings on its horns; others show it holding the sun and moon in its antlers.

Makes you wonder a little about Santa’s flying reindeer and the origin of that old fable.

Anyhow, I simply found these beliefs and practices to be seasonally appropriate, interesting, and quite lovely, and thought I would share them with you. I recommend the book; it is quite lengthy but very good.